Archive for July, 2013

more we now have a little patch of green lawn and some rusty planters to go with our deck. summer is here.

with the amount of high shgc glass on our south facade, it would be easy to overheat without proper shading.

on the hottest days, we simply close our exterior shades to block unwanted solar radiation before it hits the glass. the ability to fully control the shades means we can optimize the amount of gain or shade we are getting depending on the daily conditions.

the shades can be tilted to allow views out while still blocking the sun. the cost of the shades was offset by the elimination of cooling equipment and the cost of the energy to operate it.

the exterior shades combined with the exceptional insulation and thermal mass has kept our house exceptionally cool and comfortable without any air conditioning.

there is no doubt that achieving passive house, particularly in our climate, is fairly easily achievable. it does require smart design, careful planning, a contractor that understands and pays attention, and a healthy dose of persistence. if you are ready to build one for yourself, drop us a line at info@insituarchitecture.net.